LEGO League Teaches More than Robotics

Students solve problems, show teamwork, learn technology.

Teams of elementary and middle school students compete on Saturday during the FIRST LEGO League local qualifier at Sleepy Hill Elementary School in Kathleen.

RICK RUNION | THE LEDGER

By ELVIA MALAGONTHE LEDGER

Published: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 11:14 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 11:14 p.m.

KATHLEEN | A group of energized children cheered Saturday afternoon in the cafeteria of Sleepy Hill Elementary as their team robot completed a list of tasks.

Another group huddled around a laptop, explaining to judges the technology behind their robot.

Another group in a separate room sang their solution for an issue facing the elderly.

The groups were among 15 teams from Polk County and surrounding counties that competed in the FIRST LEGO League competition. The annual event is a launching pad for regional, state and, eventually, internationally competitions.

The teams varied in size, with members ranging in age from 9 years old to 14 years old.

Amy Hamilton, an engineering and technology teacher at the neighboring Sleepy Hill Middle School, said her team served as the host school and estimated about 300 people, including parents, spent the day at the competition.

The day is a culmination of hours put into preparing for the competition, including building a robot, creating a solution for a social issue and building something in a short amount of time out of limited materials. Hamilton said students were also judged on their problem-solving skills and how well they worked as a team.

"It's a true labor of love for these kids," Hamilton said. "They all cheer for each other; it's a good, positive environment."

Some of the teams worked on their robots and prepared for the competition in a classroom setting while others worked after school.

Rebecca Stacey, a technology teacher at McKeel Academy, coached a team from her school and another team from Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse.

Her students interviewed senior citizens to help find solutions to problems the elderly face. One group decided to make a shirt with technology to give alerts when the person has an appointment. The other group proposed to create a wheelchair that would move with music so that the elderly could still dance.

Stacey said the competition teaches her students much more than the fundamentals of robotics.

"I have seem some who blossom into true leaders," she said. "The confidence is then applied to solve other problems."

Bharti Tuli and Manisha Patel from Pasco County created a team after learning about the competition. The group included their children's friends and classmates.

"We're just moms with a love and passion for LEGOS," Tuli said.

The group, the Senior Wizard Storm, wore matching black shirts and wizard hats as they explained their solution to a senior citizen problem. The children outlined in a song and skit the creation of a nonprofit organization to provide transportation services to senior citizens to take their pets for veterinarian services.

"We thought it was innovative because it's not just physical injuries, but it's also loneliness and being low on money," one Wizard teammate said about problems facing senior citizens.

In the afternoon, the children played limbo and Simon Says as they waited anxiously for the judges to announce the winners.

Team Fire made up of students from Marshall Middle School in Plant City won the Champion's Award and received a bid for the regional competition. The team is coached by volunteer Jessica Wallen and Penny Reeves, a science teacher at the school.

"We are excited and thrilled," Wallen said. "We knew they had it in them."

Team Static Randomness won the robot performance award and team Spider Bots won the Technical Award. Both are coached by Brady Draper, a teacher at Bartow Elementary Academy, who said the teams are made up of students from Bartow Elementary Academy Magnet and Union Academy Magnet. The two teams will advance to the regional competition.

Senior Wizard Storm from Pasco County won the Project Award and the Jolly Ranchers won the Core Values Award. The Mad Montessorians from Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse receive the Team Spirit Award. The Panther Bolts from Mulberry Middle School won the Against All Odds Award.

<p>KATHLEEN | A group of energized children cheered Saturday afternoon in the cafeteria of Sleepy Hill Elementary as their team robot completed a list of tasks.</p><p>Another group huddled around a laptop, explaining to judges the technology behind their robot.</p><p>Another group in a separate room sang their solution for an issue facing the elderly.</p><p>The groups were among 15 teams from Polk County and surrounding counties that competed in the FIRST LEGO League competition. The annual event is a launching pad for regional, state and, eventually, internationally competitions.</p><p>The teams varied in size, with members ranging in age from 9 years old to 14 years old.</p><p>Amy Hamilton, an engineering and technology teacher at the neighboring Sleepy Hill Middle School, said her team served as the host school and estimated about 300 people, including parents, spent the day at the competition.</p><p>The day is a culmination of hours put into preparing for the competition, including building a robot, creating a solution for a social issue and building something in a short amount of time out of limited materials. Hamilton said students were also judged on their problem-solving skills and how well they worked as a team.</p><p>"It's a true labor of love for these kids," Hamilton said. "They all cheer for each other; it's a good, positive environment."</p><p>Some of the teams worked on their robots and prepared for the competition in a classroom setting while others worked after school. </p><p>Rebecca Stacey, a technology teacher at McKeel Academy, coached a team from her school and another team from Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse. </p><p>Her students interviewed senior citizens to help find solutions to problems the elderly face. One group decided to make a shirt with technology to give alerts when the person has an appointment. The other group proposed to create a wheelchair that would move with music so that the elderly could still dance.</p><p>Stacey said the competition teaches her students much more than the fundamentals of robotics.</p><p>"I have seem some who blossom into true leaders," she said. "The confidence is then applied to solve other problems."</p><p>Bharti Tuli and Manisha Patel from Pasco County created a team after learning about the competition. The group included their children's friends and classmates.</p><p>"We're just moms with a love and passion for LEGOS," Tuli said.</p><p>The group, the Senior Wizard Storm, wore matching black shirts and wizard hats as they explained their solution to a senior citizen problem. The children outlined in a song and skit the creation of a nonprofit organization to provide transportation services to senior citizens to take their pets for veterinarian services.</p><p>"We thought it was innovative because it's not just physical injuries, but it's also loneliness and being low on money," one Wizard teammate said about problems facing senior citizens.</p><p>In the afternoon, the children played limbo and Simon Says as they waited anxiously for the judges to announce the winners.</p><p>Team Fire made up of students from Marshall Middle School in Plant City won the Champion's Award and received a bid for the regional competition. The team is coached by volunteer Jessica Wallen and Penny Reeves, a science teacher at the school.</p><p>"We are excited and thrilled," Wallen said. "We knew they had it in them."</p><p>Team Static Randomness won the robot performance award and team Spider Bots won the Technical Award. Both are coached by Brady Draper, a teacher at Bartow Elementary Academy, who said the teams are made up of students from Bartow Elementary Academy Magnet and Union Academy Magnet. The two teams will advance to the regional competition.</p><p>Senior Wizard Storm from Pasco County won the Project Award and the Jolly Ranchers won the Core Values Award. The Mad Montessorians from Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse receive the Team Spirit Award. The Panther Bolts from Mulberry Middle School won the Against All Odds Award.</p>